The Post and Mailhttp://thepostandmail.com/node/9550/atom/feed2013-02-28T10:16:20-05:00SUSPECTS IN COURT: Alleged church burglar has initial hearinghttp://thepostandmail.com/content/alleged-church-burglar-has-initial-hearing2013-02-28T10:14:16-05:002013-02-28T10:16:20-05:00editor

COLUMBIA CITY — A Columbia City man accused of stealing from a local church had his initial court appearance Monday.

Cody Miller, 21, was accused of burglary and theft after he allegedly stole priceless artifacts from Saint Paul of the Cross Catholic Church in Columbia City.

A church relic, a gold metal container and a set of brass keys, along with a small amount of money and checks were taken from the church.

The relic, a metal cross containing a small bone fragment of Saint Paul of the Cross, had been broke open to determine its value for scrap, police said.

COLUMBIA CITY — A Columbia City man accused of stealing from a local church had his initial court appearance Monday.

Cody Miller, 21, was accused of burglary and theft after he allegedly stole priceless artifacts from Saint Paul of the Cross Catholic Church in Columbia City.

A church relic, a gold metal container and a set of brass keys, along with a small amount of money and checks were taken from the church.

The relic, a metal cross containing a small bone fragment of Saint Paul of the Cross, had been broke open to determine its value for scrap, police said.

The relic was found in a dumpster, and the bone fragment has not been recovered.

Case reports allege on two occasions, Miller broke into the church. Miller told investigators he stayed at the church several times because he was homeless.

Several of the items were found in the trash. The burglaries occurred on Jan. 7 and Feb. 11.

Miller will next be in court on March 25 for pre-trial proceedings. His attorney will be Whitley County Public Defender Brad Voelz.

Trial date for Rector announced

A Columbia City man accused of burglary and theft had his trial date set in Whitley County Circuit Court Monday.

Charles Rector, 18, was arrested on Jan. 5 on a count of burglary, which is a Class B felony, and theft, a Class D felony. He is currently scheduled to stand trial on Tuesday, May 7 at 9 a.m. The final pre-trial conference is Monday, April 29. His attorney is Brad Voelz.

According to case reports, Rector and two juveniles were accused of breaking into a person’s home and stealing approximately $8,800 of merchandise.

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